Oklahoma’s refusal to share county-level measles data during outbreaks has sparked concerns from health experts, including Dr. George Monks, who argues the data is crucial for public safety. The state's stance contrasts with how it handles other diseases like West Nile.

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Gov. Kevin Stitt’s push to bring Oklahoma’s state workers back to the office has run into a wall of logistics and exceptions.

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Nearly 8,000 Oklahoma state employees retained remote or hybrid work arrangements despite a return-to-office order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt in December. Many agencies lacked space or met exceptions under the policy. But critics argue the mandate caused confusion, disrupted services and contradicted previous support for flexible work policies.

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The Board of Education considers new academic standards for science and social studies at a meeting Feb. 27. The board's approval is the subject of a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Oklahoma County. (Jennifer Palmer/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your [...]

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The Oklahoma State Capitol. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. A proposal by the Senate education chairman to reject the academic standards for social studies and science did not survive this week. The standards automatically take effect. [...]

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order requiring most state employees to return to office full-time by February 2025, reversing pandemic-era telework policies. The policy includes several exceptions, but critics worry about competitiveness and recruitment.

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Oklahoma Watch · What to Know About State Question 833 Keaton Ross wrote about State Question 833, a ballot initiative that proposes allowing municipalities to create public infrastructure districts. Paul Monies discusses a scathing grand jury report into spending under an education relief fund directed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and his allies during the first [...]

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A senior at Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City logs into the ACT website to check his score on Oct. 18, 2023. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. Oklahoma's average composite ACT score dipped to 17.6 [...]

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Amy Wright, special education teacher at Newcastle High School, keeps Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer close as she finishes preparing for students to return to the classroom in August 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly [...]

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Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters attends a hearing of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency at the Oklahoma Capitol on June 20, 2024. (Jake Ramsey/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. The U.S. Department of Education found much [...]

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